Jack

Right before Jaycie and Benny left for EFY,

our neighbor, Jack, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

We live in a subdivision with large lots, most of which are not built on.

Jack was the caretaker of all that land.

We didn't get to talk with him much,

but whenever we would drive by he would give us a big smile and wave.

He was the kind of person that, whenever you saw him, you just wanted to run over to and give him a big hug.

He reminded me of my Grandpa Teichert.

He ended up being in Peggy's house for hospice. He worked for her and was her dear friend.

Before the girls left, we went over and sang him some songs as a family.

While the girls were gone, we made him this birthday cake.  He turned 72.

Like the tractor Sarah made?  That's where we saw him the most.

That week we went over a few more times.

One time I ran down there by myself.  Jack hadn't talked or eaten or really opened his eyes for 24 hours.  When he heard my voice, he opened his eyes and tried to talk to me.  I finally understood that he was asking if the kids had come with me.

So I ran home and got Taffy and KD.

When Jack saw them, his eyes lit up and he reached out to them.

We sang him some more songs until he fell asleep.

Another night, Jeremy and I went over late.  Jeremy brought his guitar and we sang with the clergyman, Peggy, and another friend of Jack's.

Jack died before the girls got back from EFY.

We sang "Come Thou Fount" at his funeral which was in a Baptist church.

We were 9 of the 14 white people there.  

It was an awesome experience (Caden described it as the loudest funeral he'd ever been to).

We were grateful we got honor Jack and his devotion to God with that song.

We miss you Jack!  I hope you've gotten to meet my Grandpa and Dad.

Quick wrap up of some summer

When Jeremy, Jaycie and Benny got home from Trek, 

they had some serious chigger bites.

Medicine application was bonding time.

1 day after returning from Trek,

Jaycie and Benny piled in the car and drove themselves 6 hours to EFY in Bowling Green Kentucky.

They had some serious adventures in their travels.

EFY was awesome. . . we hear.

What else could it be?

Benny's group.

While the girls were gone, the rest of us enjoyed the baby bunnies,

dressing up and hanging with friends,

visiting the Mississippi River and downtown,

and getting immunizations.

(Even I had to get a tetnus. . . my shoulder hurt for weeks! I must be getting old or something.)

Timo and Caden were very brave, but the "Champion" award goes to KD.

She got 6 shots and didn't shed a single tear or squirm to get away as they just kept comin' and comin'.

Caden, lucky for us, has to be doing something or he goes crazy.

This project was an old picnic table left on the lawn when we bought the house.

He sanded and painted it.  It's nice to have a handy teenager around.

Jaycie and Benny got home from EFY just in time for our ward Family History/Talent show activity.

Timo, Sarah, Taffy and KD had put together posters on some ancestors and Jaycie and Benny sang "I'm yours" with Benny accompanying on the ukelele.

(Taffy didn't play the trumpet for her talent - her poster was on my dad and it is his.)

The next few weeks were whirlwinds (as the next few posts will show),

but we squoze in some swimming. . . in the day

and in the night,

played some games,

and rehearsed like crazy for our upcoming debut as

"The Baird Family and Friends."

. . . to be continued.

Some days. . .

Some days I feel like this. . . 

The 12 seater people mover

We've had our dependable (bought from the Cincinnati mission) van for 6 years.

Just the other day I was reflecting on what an awesome vehicle it's been.

While out looking for Homecoming attire Saturday night with Jaycie as the chauffeur,

the van died.

It spent a lonely weekend sitting in the Payless parking lot. . .

filled with a lot of random socks, trash, and miscellaneous items, but no people.

We hope to help it fill the measure of it's creation again soon.

Teenagers

Teenagers!

We've got three in our home at the moment.

And I get to start out each school day in seminary with 2 of my own, 1 from our town and 4 from a neighboring town.

Is there a better way to start the day???

I think not!